Systems and methods for distinguishing audio using positional information

Abstract

A separate virtual (e.g. aural) location for one or more interaction or telephony call participants may provide an indication or clue for at least one of the call participants of who is speaking at any one time, reducing errors and misunderstandings during the call. Auditory localization may be used so that participants are heard from separate virtual locations. An audible user interface (AUI) may be produced such that audio presented to the listening user is location-specific, the location being relevant to the user, just as information presented in a graphical user interface (GUI) might be relevant. For example, a plurality of audio streams which are part of an interaction between communicating parties may be accepted, and based on the audio streams, a plurality of audio outputs may be provided, each located at a different location in three-dimensional space.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of providing audio output, the method comprising:
 displaying to a user a plurality of computer applications, each application having an on-screen position; and 
 providing to the user in a left-right channel audio stream an audio prompt corresponding to a first of the plurality of computer applications such that the audio prompt is perceived when heard by the user to be at a location in three-dimensional space distinct from the location of another audio prompt corresponding to a second of the plurality of computer applications. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 providing the plurality of audio prompts comprises: 
 outputting a left portion of a left-right channel audio prompt to a first earcup of a set of headphones, and outputting a right portion of a left-right channel audio prompt to a second earcup of the set of headphones. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional space is defined relative to the user by a left-right axis, an up-down axis, and a forward-backward axis. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 accepting a plurality of audio streams, each associated with an organizational role, which are part of an interaction between communicating parties; and 
 based on the audio streams and the associated organizational roles, providing a plurality of audio outputs each associated with an audio stream, each output located at a different location in three-dimensional space, the location of each output determined, automatically, by a processor, by the organizational role associated with the audio stream associated with the output; 
 wherein an audio stream of the plurality of audio streams is a voice telephone call. 
 
     
     
       5. A method of providing audio output, the method comprising:
 processing a plurality of audio streams to produce a left-right channel audio stream such that when the left-right channel audio stream is heard by a listener, a first audio stream of the plurality of audio streams is perceived to be at a location in three-dimensional space different from the perceived location of a second audio stream of the plurality of audio streams; and 
 displaying to the listener a plurality of computer applications, each application having an on-screen position; and 
 providing to the listener in a left-right channel audio stream an audio prompt corresponding to a first of the plurality of computer applications such that the audio prompt is perceived when heard by the listener to be at a location in three-dimensional space distinct from the location of another audio prompt corresponding to a second of the plurality of computer applications. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , comprising providing on a computer display an indication of a position for each audio stream of the plurality of audio streams, the position on the computer display of each audio stream corresponding to the virtual position in three-dimensional space for the audio stream. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the three-dimensional space is defined relative to a listener by a left-right axis, an up-down axis, and a forward-backward axis. 
     
     
       8. A system for providing audio output, the system comprising:
 a memory; and 
 a processor configured to:
 display to a user a plurality of computer applications, each application having an on-screen position; and 
 provide to the user in a left-right channel audio stream an audio prompt corresponding to a first of the plurality of computer applications such that the audio prompt is perceived when heard by the user to be at a location in three-dimensional space distinct from the location of another audio prompt corresponding to a second of the plurality of computer applications. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 providing the prompt comprises: 
 outputting a left portion of a left-right channel audio stream to a first earcup of a set of headphones, and outputting a right portion of a left-right channel audio stream to a second earcup of the set of headphones, so that audio related to the prompt is perceived to be at a location in three-dimensional space. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the processor is to: 
 accept a plurality of audio streams, each associated with an organizational role, which are part of an interaction between communicating parties; and 
 based on the audio streams and the associated organizational roles, provide a plurality of audio outputs, each associated with an audio stream, each output located at a different location in three-dimensional space, the location of each output determined automatically, by a processor, by the organizational role associated with the audio stream associated with the output; and 
 wherein the location in three-dimensional space for audio related to each audio stream is correlated to information for the audio stream displayed on a computer display. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , comprising providing on a computer display an indication of a position for each audio stream. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10 , wherein an audio stream of the plurality of audio streams is a voice telephone call. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the three-dimensional space is defined relative to a user by a left-right axis, an up-down axis, and a forward-backward axis. 
     
     
       14. A method of providing audio output, the method comprising:
 displaying on a user interface a plurality of applications, each at an on-screen position; and 
 providing in an audio stream a sound corresponding to a first of the plurality of computer applications such that the sound is perceived when heard by a user to be at a location in three-dimensional space distinct from the location of another sound corresponding to a second of the plurality of computer applications.